Snap-in lock retention system for a safe

Our invention deals with a lock retention system for a safe that allows a lock to be securely mounted by merely snapping the lock into operating position without the necessity of using separate clips, pins, or other retainers to hold the lock in place.

The bodies and doors/lids of our company's fire-resistant storage containers, also referred to as fire-resistant safes, are constructed by joining internal and external shells together so that they form a mold that can be filled with insulation material. (The insulation material itself is generally a concrete mixture that solidifies in the mold formed by the internal and external shells.) Each double-walled shell is molded with a pair of funnels that are used to help fill the shell with the insulation material. Escutcheons are mounted over the funnels immediately after the shells are filled. These escutcheons are made with stakes having shaped ends that are inserted through the funnels and embedded in the insulation material before the insulation material has hardened in place.

Lock cylinders for the safe and mechanisms related thereto are normally affixed underneath and to one of these escutcheons. In order to accomplish this in the most cost effective and efficient manner, it is desirable to make the operation as simple as possible. In most applications, a separate fastener clip or member is used to retain a lock cylinder in a panel or socket. However, some have sought to simplify this operation even more by producing snap-in locks that do not use separate fasteners and retainers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,405 issued to Manning et al. in 1994 for a “Door Handle Assembly with Snap-in Key Cylinder” provides one example of such an attempt.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,405 (“Manning”), the inward side of a door handle assembly has semi-rigid fingers that extend inwardly. These fingers are shaped so as to snugly embrace and abut the sides of a key cylinder inserted from the rear. Each finger has a rectangular opening that receives a snap-in stud located on the exterior of the key cylinder when the cylinder is inserted into position. A narrowed opening where the key slot is exposed is too small for the key cylinder to slide forward and through. Further motion in this direction is, therefore, blocked. Once the studs have snapped into the previously described openings, the key cylinder also cannot slide back. Thus, Manning presents one means and apparatus by which a manufacturer has sought to simplify and expedite the process of lock installation; however, there remains a need for other methods and apparatus to accomplish this same purpose.

Our invention allows a lock to be snap fit into an escutcheon plate in a secure mount that holds the lock irremovably in place in a proper position so that it cannot rotate or slide axially inward or outward. It eliminates the need for any fastener, since the complete locking effect is supplied by the shape of the lock barrel and the molded shape of the lock socket/escutcheon plate.

The lock socket molded into the escutcheon plate has a pair of alignment flats to receive the lock in a proper orientation and an opposed pair of resilient snap locks. These are free to move radially in and out by virtue of a slot that partially separates the snap locks from the rest of the escutcheon plate.

The lock barrel has cam surfaces leading up to the diameter that fits in the lock socket. This diameter also includes a pair of alignment flats and an opposed pair of snap lock flats. A lock flange on the outside of the lock limits depth of insertion of the lock into its socket. As the lock is inserted, the cam surface radially spreads open the resilient snap locks. These pass over the retainer lip of the cam surfaces and snap into the snap lock flats where the snap locks retain the lock barrel against axial movement.

This arrangement allows the lock with its lock bar to be maneuvered into the lock socket and then simply snapped in place. The snap lock retainers have adequate resilience and strength to hold the lock firmly in snapped position against any axial movement. The assembly needs no fasteners or anchorage other than the escutcheon plate, which is secured to the safe by an interlock with the concrete insulation material that fills the safe.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view from the outside of a portable fireproof safe including our snap-in lock retention system.

FIG. 2A provides a front view of a lower escutcheon incorporating our snap-in lock retention system.

FIG. 2B provides a back view of a lower escutcheon incorporating our snap-in lock retention system.

FIG. 3A provides a front perspective view of a lower escutcheon incorporating our snap-in lock retention system.

FIG. 3B provides a first back perspective view of a lower escutcheon incorporating our snap-in lock retention system.

FIG. 4A provides a second back perspective view of a lower escutcheon incorporating our snap-in lock retention system.

FIG. 4B provides a more detailed back view of the lock socket of our snap-in lock retention system.

FIG. 5A provides a perspective view of the snap-in lock used in our snap-in lock retention system.

FIG. 5B provides a side view of the snap-in lock used in our snap-in lock retention system.

FIG. 1 illustrates a portable fireproof safe (denoted generally by arrow 1 ) with handle 2 , lid 3 , and base 4 . As previously discussed, lid 3 and base 4 are formed by joining molded interior and exterior shells and filling the space between with a fireproof filler such as concrete. Upper escutcheon plate 5 and lower escutcheon plate 6 are affixed in this concrete before it hardens via upper anchors (not shown) and lower anchors 6 A in a manner typical for our safes of this type.

As better seen in the remaining drawing figures, our invention allows a key cylinder lock (denoted generally by arrow 7 ) to be snap fit into an escutcheon plate (such as lower escutcheon plate 6 ) in a secure mount that holds the lock 7 irremovably in place in a proper position so that it cannot rotate and cannot slide axially inward or outward. It eliminates the need for any fastener, since the complete locking effect is supplied by the interlocking features of lock 7 and its lock socket (denoted generally by arrow 8 ) located in lower escutcheon plate 6 .

Lock socket 8 with its key cylinder aperture (denoted by arrow 9 ) is molded into lower escutcheon plate 6 . (See, FIGS. 2A through 4B .) It has a pair of lock alignment flats 8 A to receive lock 7 in a proper orientation and block rotational movement of lock 7 after it is received. It also has an opposed pair of resilient snap locks (denoted by arrows 8 B) that are free to move radially in and out by virtue of slots 8 C that partially separate the snap locks 8 B from the rest of lower escutcheon plate 6 and lock socket 8 . Slots 8 C (and the arms of snap locks 8 B) are perpendicular to the central axis of cylindrical key cylinder lock 7 and generally parallel to escutcheon plate 6 . Thus, snap locks 8 B also flex outward and inward in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of lock 7 and generally parallel to escutcheon plate 6 . Snap locks positioned on arms flexing in a plane parallel to lock 7 could also be used. However, our arrangement is more advantageous as it allows for a more compact and unobtrusive lock socket 8 . It also makes it easier to insert our preferred lock 7 with lock bar 12 into socket 8 .

Lock socket 8 is adapted by shape and design to have the back end 7 A of lock 7 inserted therein via aperture 9 until only its front end 7 B is accessible via aperture 9 . Insertion blocking ledges 9 A of aperture 9 extend radially inward so as to come into contact with an insertion blocking member such as flange 10 of lock 7 when lock 7 is fully inserted into aperture 9 , thereby blocking further inward movement of lock 7 .

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B , lock 7 has removal blocking members comprised of opposing cam surfaces 7 C leading up to the diameter (denoted by bracket 11 ) that fits into lock socket 8 . Diameter 11 includes a pair of socket alignment flats 7 D sized and positioned to allow insertion only when aligned with lock alignment flats 8 A of lock socket 8 . It also includes a pair of snap lock flats 7 E behind cam surfaces 7 C. As lock 7 is inserted, cam surfaces 7 C radially spread open resilient snap locks 8 B. Snap locks 8 B (assisted in part by ramped edges 8 F) pass over retainer lips 7 F of cam surfaces 7 C and snap into snap lock flats 7 E. Removal blocking surfaces 7 G retain lock 7 in socket 8 by blocking subsequent outward axial movement and removal. The outward facing surfaces 8 D of snap locks 8 B, like blocking ledges 9 A, serve to block further inward movement by flange 10 . (In order to avoid overcrowding of the drawing figures, not all outward facing surfaces 8 D are numbered.) Similarly, the snug abutment of flat snap lock aperture edges 8 E with snap lock flats 7 E serve, along with the snug abutment of socket alignment flats 7 D and lock alignment flats 8 A, to prevent rotation of lock 7 . (In order to avoid overcrowding of the drawing figures, not all of the snap lock aperture edges 8 E are numbered.)

Our invention allows lock 7 with its lock bar 12 to be maneuvered into lock socket 8 via aperture 9 and then simply snapped into place. The assembly needs no fasteners or anchorage other than escutcheon plate 6 , which is secured to safe 1 by its interlock with the concrete insulation material that fills the walls of safe 1 . However, it should be obvious that numerous variations are possible without exceeding the spirit and scope of our invention. The general ambit and scope of which can be better determined by examination of the claims that follow.